First Battle of Arquijas facts for kids

The First Battle of Arquijas took place on December 15, 1834. It was an important fight during the First Carlist War in Spain. This war was fought between two main groups: the Carlists and the Liberals.

The Carlists supported Infante Carlos, Count of Molina, who believed he should be king. The Liberals, also called Isabelinos or Cristinos, supported Isabella II of Spain and her mother, Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, who was ruling for her. The battle happened near a bridge over the Ega River in Navarre.

The Battle Begins: First Shots Fired

The battle started around midday. Liberal soldiers found the Carlist general, Tomás de Zumalacárregui, waiting at the bridge of Arquijas. This bridge crossed the Ega River in Navarre. A few shots were exchanged between the soldiers on both sides, marking the start of the fight.

Fighting for the Bridge: A Tough Challenge

The Liberals, led by Luis Fernández de Córdova, tried to cross the bridge by force. Córdova's soldiers lined up for battle near the Hermitage of Arquijas. This hermitage was a small religious building that overlooked the fast-moving water near the bridge.

The Liberals placed their cannons nearby to protect their soldiers as they tried to cross. A special group of brave Liberal soldiers, including carabiniers (soldiers with rifles) and peseteros (another type of soldier), tried to get over the bridge.

However, the Carlist Fourth Battalion of Navarre, helped by soldiers from Guipuzcoa, strongly defended the bridge. They pushed the Liberals back. Some Liberal soldiers managed to cross, but the bridge soon became covered with fallen soldiers. Despite their best efforts, the Liberals could not get any further.

Oraá's Clever Plan: A Tricky Move

Marcelino de Oraá Lecumberri

Córdova decided to try crossing at a different spot. He ordered Marcelino de Oraá Lecumberri to secretly move his troops behind the Carlists. At the same time, General Lopez was told to pretend to do the same thing. This was meant to confuse the Carlists.

About 2,000 Liberal soldiers under General Oraá were sent to attack the Carlist forces from behind. Oraá's main group moved towards the center of the Carlist lines. Another Liberal group was sent to fight the Carlist right side.

What happened next is a bit unclear, as different reports tell slightly different stories. One report says that General Zumalacárregui sent Ituralde's soldiers, who hadn't fought yet, to stop Oraá's attack from behind. Another report says that Ituralde, being too eager, brought his four groups of soldiers out into the open. These soldiers, who were on the Carlist left side, had been hidden behind a hill.

Oraá quickly saw what was happening. He changed his plan and moved his soldiers directly towards Ituralde's group. He also sent two groups of his own soldiers to surround Ituralde's forces. The Carlist left side was caught off guard and outnumbered. They were forced to retreat in confusion.

Zumalacárregui Steps In: Turning the Tide

General Zumalacárregui then rushed to help Ituralde's struggling soldiers. He left only a few groups of his own soldiers to watch the enemy. The Liberals had already forced Ituralde to fall back. However, Zumalacárregui's unexpected arrival surprised the Liberals and threw them into disarray. The Liberals began to give way and retreated to their second line of defense.

Some say that at this point, Córdova believed the battle was lost and told Oraá to retreat. However, Oraá, who had more experience in such situations, decided to ignore the order. Córdova did retreat in a disorganized way, leaving Oraá's group behind.

Oraá's soldiers found themselves fighting Ituralde's forces in the valley of Lana. The fight lasted for five long hours.

Again, reports differ on the final outcome. One source says that Oraá attacked, but his group of over 2,000 men was scattered in the Lana valley and fled, with the darkness of night helping their escape. However, another source claims that the Liberals had an advantage in position and numbers, which the Carlists could not overcome.

Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, a famous writer, later wrote that the Carlists would have won the battle at Arquijas if it hadn't been for Oraá's skill and bravery. He managed to get his soldiers out of a very difficult situation, while General Córdova had shown poor judgment by leaving the battlefield before the fighting ended.

After the Battle: Changes in Command

As a result of this defeat, General Córdova was replaced by Manuel Lorenzo. Córdova had retreated to Los Arcos, where he received orders from Espoz y Mina to leave his command and go to Madrid.

A few months later, on February 5, 1835, the Liberals attacked the same spot again in the Second Battle of Arquijas. However, they were pushed back once more.

Images for kids

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  A compass rose, showing directions.

See also

In Spanish: Primera Batalla de Arquijas para niños